Community-based breeding: a promising approach for genetic improvement of small ruminants in developing countries

Transcription

1 Paper presented at the 61st Annual Conference of the European Association for Animal Production Heraklion, Greece, , Session code Community-based breeding: a promising approach for genetic improvement of small ruminants in developing countries M. Tibbo, J. Sölkner, M. Wurzinger, L. Iñiguez, A.M. Okeyo, A. Haile, G. Duguma, T. Mirkena, B. Rischkowsky Correspondence: maria.wurzinger@boku.ac.at OARI

2 Outline Introduction Methodologies Main findings Conclusions and lessons Future directions

3 Genetic improvement of livestock in developing countries remains a challenge Within-breed selection and crossbreeding programs based on proven approaches from developed world have in many cases failed Main reasons: Introduction Lack of capacity, infrastructure and institutional arrangements Lack of involvement or participation of livestock keepers in the design and implementation of the programs Lack of adaptation in improved breeds

4 Introduction New thinking: Involve local communities and institutions at the start Design community-based breeding program suitable for smallholders with their participation Implement (test) the program with smallholders on farm

5 Goals and purpose Goals: Improved productivity and income of sheep owners by providing access to improved animals that respond to improved feeding and management, targeting specific market opportunities Purpose: Development of successful communitybased small ruminant breeding schemes that suit the communities conditions and farmers needs

6 Methodologies Site/breed 1. Afar 2. Bonga 3. Horro 4. Menz

7 The breeds Afar Horro Bonga Menz

8 Production systems, households and animals Project sites Production system Households Sheep enrolled Afar Agro-Pastoralism 125 2,500 Bonga Mixed crop-livestock 125 2,500 Horro Mixed crop-livestock 125 2,500 Menz Sheep-barley 125 2,500 Total ,000

9 Designing participatory community-based breeding PRA, formal surveys Choice experiments Ranking of animals (own flock + other farmers) Simulation studies Evaluation of results Developing guidelines Impact assessment Description of the production system; farmers practice Definition of breeding goals Developing breeding strategy Assesing traditional institutions and policies Assessing market access Implementing breeding strategy Process in designing community-based breeding strategy

10 Main Achievements Stakeholders consultation workshops Site and community selection Description of production systems Participatory definition of breeding goals Choice experiments, individual own flock ranking, group ranking

11 Main Achievements Heritability and correlations of preferred traits and social networks Simulation studies generated alternative selection schemes Farmers selected their preferred selection program Program implementation started in June 2009 Two rounds of best rams were selected in Feb and July 2010 Revolving fund created by purchasing selected rams as property of the community

12 Awarding ceremonies for best animals and best farmers Award Badges Burdizzo Castrator

13 Scientific outputs More than 20 publications. Few examples from scientific journals: Mirkenaet al Genetics of adaptation in domestic farm animals: a review. Livestock Science. 132 (1-3), Duguma et al Participatory approaches to investigate breeding objectives of livestock keepers. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 22, Article #64. Retrieved April 14, 2010, from Getachew et al Herd management and breeding practices of sheep owners in a mixed crop-livestock and a pastoral system of Ethiopia. African Journal Agricultural Research. 5(8), Edea et al Morphological and biometric characterization of Bonga and Horro indigenous sheep breeds of smallholders in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Animal Production. 9(1),

14 Scientific outputs Morphological characters, body weight and body measurements of Menzand Afar sheep breeds. Ethiopian Journal of Animal Production. 9(1), Identification of smallholder farmers and pastoralists preferences for sheep breeding traits in Ethiopia: Choice model approach. Submitted Estimates of economic values for important traits of two indigenous sheep breeds of Ethiopia. Submitted Community-based alternative breeding plans for indigenous sheep breeds in four agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. Pending Phenotypic ranking experiments approach in identifying preferences of smallholder farmers and pastoralists for sheep breeding traits in Ethiopia. Pending

15 Capacity building 8 MSc students completed their studies 2 PhD students will finish by Jan 2011 Researchers, Extension agents, Enumerators, and Farmers received on-the-job training attended workshops Guidelines for setting up community-based breeding prepared based on lessons learnt in the project

16 Conclusions Breeding projects require initial funding and technical help, but should be planned to become self-driven The challenge for field geneticists is to organize programs fitted to each situation and sustainable in time For high impact a functional genetic structure is necessary It is essential to have farmers motivated, organized and trained (awarding best performers would be an asset)

17 Conclusions Involve all stakeholders right from the start Farmers are innovative in finding ways to combine production and adaptation to their breeding stock A need for intelligent balance of genetic principles and consideration of practical aspects Solutions to practical problems may be found through experience and basically from farmers themselves Continuous feedback is necessary

18 Thank you! MERCI BEAUCOUP!